New York University iscommitted to the overall educational and personal development of the student, and views the unique experience of living in a residence hall as contributing greatly to such development.

The purpose of the disciplinary process is to educatestudents about the importance of abiding by the policies of the University and Residence Hall community. The process is an established procedure designed to provide fundamental fairness to all students.

What are Judicial Boards?

The Department of Housing and Residence Life has established Judicial Boards to provide another forum of fundamental fairness for students charged with violating Housing and Residence Life policy. There are two types of Judicial Boards that hear cases:

Peer Board

The Peer Board is a panel of students who have been trained to conduct hearings and review alleged violations of Housing and Residence Life policy. The “Student Justices” will hear all relevant information, question participants, and determine if a student is responsible or not responsible for violating a policy. If a student is found in violation, the Peer Board considers appropriate sanctions and makes a recommendation to the Assistant Director for Judicial Affairs.

Administrative Board

An Administrative Board is comprised of NYU administrators and operates in a similar structure. Administrative Boards are scheduled for cases which may be sensitive or inappropriate for peer review. Administrative Boards may also be utilized when the Peer Boards are inactive (i.e. exam weeks, summer session, etc.)

What Happens at a Hearing?

Judicial Board Hearings follow a procedure that is somewhat informal but with focus. Information presented in a hearing must relate to the specific incident under review (introduction irrelevant facts or discussion of a previous incident is not permitted. A typical hearing will last 30-45 minutes and generally follows this agenda:

Frequently Asked Questions

	Can I bring witnesses to speak on my behalf? Yes. You may bring witnesses with you if they were present during the incident or have relevant information regarding the matter. Character witnesses are not permitted. Witnesses are only present in the room when called upon. Witnesses may be questioned by the Board, the complainant, or respondent.
	Can I bring my best friend with me? If desired, a student may bring one advisor to provide advice and support. If you choose to bring an advisor, he/she MUST be a current student at NYU. Parents, attorneys, counselors, etc. may not attend a Judicial Board hearing. During the hearing, advisors may only speak with you quietly. An advisor may not address the board or question other participants.
	What happens if I’m found responsible for violating a policy? After the hearing, the Board adjourns to review all of the relevant information. If a student is found in violation of a policy, the Board considers appropriate sanctions. Considerations when determining sanctions include the nature of the violation, mitigating circumstances during the incident, and any prior conduct record of the student (the Board does not receive any information about a student’s conduct record until after responsibility has been determined). The Board makes a recommendation to the Coordinator for Judicial Affairs regarding sanctions. You will receive a letter within five working days after the hearing notifying you of the Board’s finding and any sanctions that have been levied.
	Where can I learn more to help me prepare for the hearing? You can learn more about the judicial process in your Housing and Residential Education Handbook. If you would like to speak with a neutral party prior to your hearing about your rights and responsibilities as a student, you may contact the Judicial Educator for Residential Education at 212-998-4635.